Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0066’

ABSTRACT

A new garden type Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0066’ particularly distinguished by a medium sized plant with upright to outwardly spreading and uniform mounded plant habit, 4-4.5 cm dark pink daisy flowers and a natural season response in late September to early October.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Chrysanthemumx morifolium.

Varietal denomination: ‘CIFZ0066’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically knownas Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘CIFZ0066’.

‘CIFZ0066’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivarhas a medium size plant with upright to outwardly spreading and uniformmounded plant habit, 4-4.5 cm dark pink daisy flowers and a naturalseason response in late September to early October.

‘CIFZ0066’ originated from a mutation: Stock x-rayed at 1750 RAD inOctober of 2012. The variety was found as a single cutting sport fromthe stock.

The female parent was ‘Jacqueline Pink Improved’, ‘CIFZ0015’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 25,905. When compared to the female parent, ‘CIFZ0066’ has:

-   1) Similar flower type and a similar to a bit larger flower size but    more coral/less lavender color than the sport parent-   2) Blackcloth is 2 days faster and natural season response is 3 days    faster than the sport parent-   3) Similar plant habit with similar to a bit smaller plant size than    the sport parent

No male parent.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘CIFZ0066’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection,this initial selection took place on Apr. 9, 2013 in Gilroy, Calif.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in May, 2013 in Gilroy, Calif., and continuing thereafter, hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor ‘CIFZ0066’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

‘CIFZ0066’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar has not been applied for.‘CIFZ0066’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effectivefiling date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that mayhave been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date ofthis application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘CIFZ0066’directly from the inventor.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of the new variety. The combination of thesecharacteristics distinguishes this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinctvariety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘CIFZ0066’ with colors being as true as possible withan illustration of this type.

The photographic drawings show in FIG. 1 a close view of flower of thenew variety and in

FIG. 2 a flowering plant from an outdoor trial.

The aforementioned photographs: FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 were taken in August2017 both showing a plant from the same blackcloth indoor trial inGilroy, Calif. These plants were about 10 weeks of age. One rootedcutting per pot had been planted in a one gallon pot, not pinched inweek 24, and black clothed from week 25. Plants started flowering inAugust.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Gilroy, Calif. in August 2017 on theplants from the aforementioned trial.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) 2001.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY ‘CIFZ0066’ AND TWO MOSTSIMILAR VARIETIES: ‘Synjac Peafus’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,655(‘Jacqueline ‘CIFZ0066’ Peach Fusion’) Flowering response 1 day faster 1day slower (blackcloth): Flower shape: Similar flower type with Similarflower type with similar or a bit larger size similar or a bit smallerand stronger flower color size and more pale that holds better in flowercolor that does warmer temperatures not hold in warmer temperaturesPlant habit or size: Similar plant size and Similar plant size and planthabit plant habit ‘Fiorra Pink’, U.S. Plant ‘CIFZ0066’ Pat. No. 26,462Flowering response Three weeks faster 3 weeks slower (natural): responseresponse Plants, stems, Flexible stems Stems can break easilyflexibility: when compressed Plant habit or size: Similar overall sizebut Similar overall size but rounder/more ball shaped more mounded type(height more similar to width)/less mound shaped (height smaller thanwidth)

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Herbaceous garden-type, freely            branching, strong and moderately vigorous, upright to            outwardly spreading and uniform mounded growth habit.        -   Plant height (above soil).—15-18 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—16-20 cm.        -   Plant width.—30-35 cm.-   Roots:    -   -   Number of days to initiate roots.—About 4 days at about 22°            C.        -   Number of days to produce a rooted cutting.—14-16 days at            22° C.        -   Type.—Fine, fibrous, free branching.        -   Color.—RHS N155B but whiter.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Immature leaf, color upper surface.—RHS 139A.        -   Immature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS N138A.        -   Mature leaf, color, upper surface.—Closest to 136B.        -   Mature leaf, color lower surface.—RHS 138B.        -   Length.—2.9-3.9 cm.        -   Width.—2.5-3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate, with distinct lobes.        -   Base shape.—Attenuate.        -   Apex shape.—Mucronate.        -   Margin.—5-lobed (palmate), edge dentate.        -   Upper surface.—Bifid hairs.        -   Lower surface.—Bifid hairs.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—RHS 138B.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS N138B.        -   Pattern of veining.—Palmate.        -   Petiole color.—RHS 138A.        -   Petiole length.—0.9-1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.        -   Hairs.—Bifid hairs.-   Stem:    -   -   Quantity of main branches per plant.—5-7.        -   Color of stem.—RHS 138A.        -   Length of stem.—5.5-7.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—0.5-1.7 cm.        -   Hairs.—Bifid hairs.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 138A.        -   Length of peduncle.—4.6-7.8 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.1-0.15 cm.        -   Hairs.—Bifid hairs.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Compositae, solitary, decorative-type inflorescences            borne terminally above foliage, ligulate ray florets            arranged acropetally on a capitulum giving a double flower.        -   Quantity of short days to flowering (response            time).—Approximately 6 weeks.        -   Natural season flowering.—Late September to early October.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—60-80, with many small            buds developing.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About five            weeks from first color.        -   Fragrance.—Slightly spicy.-   Bud (when showing color):    -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 160A; RHS 60A bleeding through at            apex.        -   Length.—1.0-1.2 cm.        -   Width.—1.0-1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblate.-   Immature inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter.—3.0-3.5 cm.        -   Color of ray florets, upper surface.—RHS 2C, overlain with            light layer of RHS 64B; darkest at apex.        -   Color of ray florets, lower surface.—RHS 2C with RHS 64B at            apical margin.-   Mature inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter.—4.0-4.5 cm.        -   Depth.—1.3-1.5 cm.        -   Total diameter of disc.—0.3 cm to no disk present.        -   Receptacle color.—RHS 144A.        -   Receptacle height.—0.2 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—3.0 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Average quantity of florets.—Between 130 and 150 in several            whorls.        -   Color of florets, upper surface (abaxial).—Outer layers; RHS            1D overlain with RHS 64B; darker at apex.        -   Color inner surface (adaxial).—RHS 1D with RHS 64B at            margin.        -   Length.—1.8-2.1 cm.        -   Width/diameter.—0.4-0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex shape.—Mostly obtuse and dentate.        -   Base shape.—Tube.        -   Margin.—Entire. Small incisions may be present at tip.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Papillate.        -   Lower surface.—Papillate.-   Disc florets: Up to 200, may not be present in all flowers.    -   -   Width.—Up to 0.5 cm.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Colour.—RHS 1B; 144B at base.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Quantity.—20-25.        -   Color, upper surface.—RHS 137A.        -   Color, lower surface.—RHS 137A.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Width.—0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Glabrous.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Canescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—One.        -   Length.—0.2-0.5 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 150A.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 7D.        -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.        -   Ovary color.—RHS 145C.        -   Ovary length.—0.2 cm.        -   Ovary width.—0.1 cm.-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—1, found on only disc florets.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS 2B.        -   Length filaments.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS 13A.        -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther shape.—Oval to club shaped.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS 13A.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Has not been determined to date.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Has not been determined to date.        -   Winter hardiness/cold tolerance.—Has not been observed to            date.        -   Drought/heat tolerance.—Has not been observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘CIFZ0066’ substantially as illustrated and described herein.